So today we had a guest lecturer from the Climate Change and Health section of WHO talk to the class about the impacts of climate change on the Himalayas. The point was made that while Bhutan was carbon negative, the emissions from surrounding countries and across the world will still have an impact. Its not theoretical up here, glaciers are retreating and high lakes are threatening to
burst and wash away entire valleys of people and mosquitoes are being found at higher altitude. At the end of the experts talk on the health impacts, emerging infectious surveillance needs, emergency response preparations and sentinel site implementation, she asked the students if they had any question or comments on what should be done. The students were typically quiet, and then one student raised his hand, and said: "Madam, I think its best that all the other countries stop their pollution so Bhutan does not have to do any of these things."
